Phil Ivey has been labeled as the best poker player in the world by many of the top-ranked professionals. Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, CA and moved to New Jersey before reaching the age of one. His grandpa taught Phil one cent-ante 5-Card Stud poker. From then on on, Phil was hooked on poker and wanted to pickup every little thing he could about the game. He would tell his elders that he was going to be a professional poker player. He didn’t let the adverse comments from other people destroy his goal of being one of the strongest poker competitors on the planet.
Phil began playing intently after getting a false ID with the name of Jerome. He honed his techniques at the poker rooms of Atlantic City. The initial few years for him were a learning period and winning was not a regular outcome at the time. He became known at the 2000 WSOP when he achieved two final tables and came away with his first World Series of Poker bracelet, in a $2, 500 Pot-Limit Omaha game. At the closing table he destroyed quite a few of the better known pros including "Amarillo Slim" Preston, David "Devilfish" Ulliot, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.
Phil made a decision to take his skills to the next level and headed out west to Sin City. He continues to participate in in "The Big Game" at the Bellagio with the greatest players on the planet. Ivey credits his success to discipline and an eternal love for the game of poker. He states that he is learning every day and is quite abashed about his accomplishments. He knows he makes blunders every single game of poker and always aspires to improve.
Even though Ivey has come first in some large tournaments, he favors winning cash games on a regular basis.